Celebration of Professor Emeritus Dr. Moriarty

Dr. Moriarty's keynote address, "Alice in Wonderland, Psychology in the Biological Sciences," will focus on the history of psychology at USD

Tour of BN Research and Teaching Facilities

As part of a two-day celebration, the Psychological Sciences Department is giving a tour of Behavioral Neuroscience research and teaching...

Spring '19 Psychology Internship Fair

Explore internships in psychology, BN, sociology, and more!

Dr. Sgoutas-Emch Speaks on Tech Detox

Your brain needs time to catch up and refocus on each new task, and “studies show that focusing on one task at a time allows your...

Dr. Jena Hales Receives 2018/2019 OURMA

Over the past seven years Dr. Hales has mentored more than 40 undergraduate students and provided them with opportunities to develop...

Samantha O'Brien: Creating a Summit

Psychology major Samantha O'Brien creates a space for voices of Womxn of Color to be heard.

Jessica Green receives SACNAS Award

Judges recognized Yessica’s work as a standout among the student presentations.

Michael Harris Student Colloquium

Alex Unapanta, Roxanne Moghadam and Elizabeth Petty present their research at the Fall 2018 Michael Harris Student Colloquium.

Olivia Britton, President of Psi Chi

Olivia Britton is a senior majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience and president of Psi Chi.

Get to Know Dr. Karen Markowitz

Dr. Markowitz teaches the Introduction Psychology course this fall 2018

Get to Know Dr. Brandon Carlisle

Dr. Brandon Carlisle teaches the Theories of Personality course this fall 2018.

Get to Know Dr. Ruben Hernandez

Dr. Hernandez teaches the Introduction Psychology and Research Methods courses this fall 2018.

New Chair of the Department

Welcome to Dr. Anne Koenig, new chair of The Department of Psychological Sciences.

Get to Know Dr. Victoria Rodriguez

Dr. Victoria Christine Rodriguez is The Psychological Sciences' Diversity Post Doctorial Fellow.

Department of Psychological Sciences

The objective of USD's Department of Psychological Sciences is to advance student understanding of psychology and behavioral neuroscience as a science, a profession and a means of promoting human welfare.

Why Choose Psychological Sciences at USD?

Advance your understanding of psychology as a science, a profession and a means of promoting the welfare of human and animal species with a degree in psychology or behavioral neuroscience.

Advanced Research Environment

Faculty actively pursue their own research, and you'll have the opportunity to benefit from their unique, distinguished experience in the lab and have co-publication opportunities or conduct your own research projects.

Real-World Experiences

With small class sizes and collaborative research projects, you'll gain tangible experiences in the lab and field that help deepen your understanding of complex topics.

Solid Communications Skills

You'll have the opportunity to present your research at conferences, as well as on campus at Creative Collaborations. This leads to the solid presentation and communication skills that employers are looking for.

Connect Beyond the Classroom

Learn from guest experts who present advanced psychological concepts to augment classwork, student research and faculty research.

In the News

2018/2019 OURMA Awarded to Dr. Jena Hales
// February 4, 2019
Ali Mclagan, Marta Sabariego, Dr. Jena Hales, Nina Tabrizi, Greer Marshall This year The College of Arts and Science’…
Samantha O'Brien: Creating a Summit, Voice for USD's Womxn of Color
// November 30, 2018
Samantha O’Brien’s chapter as a University of San Diego student is rapidly coming to a close. She’ll complete her undergra…
Dr. Susan Birren Presents at USD's 2018 Phi Beta Kappa Conference
// November 15, 2018
The University of San Diego chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was honored to host Dr. Susan Birren as our 2018 Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar on No…
Students Gain Valuable Experience at Summer Research Colloquium
// August 13, 2018
Ask most students what they did during the summer and there's a mix of answers: time spent with friends, family, going on vacation and plent…
Research Week: Faculty Recognized for Mentorship, Grant Proposals
// April 19, 2018
The University of San Diego’s Research Week hosted two events Tuesday that speak to one of the most important elements for research to…